Stepping Stones North Wales Secures Funding to Launch our Stepping Forward Outreach Project during Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2026

5th February 2026

Stepping Stones North Wales is delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding from the VAWDASV (Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence) North Wales Regional Team to deliver Stepping Forward, a new bilingual outreach and support project aimed at encouraging male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and survivors within the LGBTQ+ community to access specialist support.

The Stepping Forward project will use targeted social media advertising across North Wales to reach survivors who are statistically less likely to seek help due to stigma, fear of not being believed, or a lack of visible, inclusive services. The campaign will reassure survivors that they will be believed and that free, confidential, trauma-informed support is available in both Welsh and English.

Support accessed through the project will include one-to-one counselling with BACP-registered counsellors, group Art Therapy, and the Step Into Wellbeing programme. All services are accredited by The Survivors Trust and delivered across the six counties of North Wales, with accessible venues and inclusive provision, including British Sign Language interpretation where required.

The project builds on recent Home Office-funded research led by Stepping Stones North Wales in partnership with New Pathways and Umbrella Cymru, exploring the service needs of LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence in Wales.

Phil Eastment, CEO of Stepping Stones North Wales, said:

“This week, 2nd to 8th February, is Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violance Awareness Week, making it more poignant that we are launching this vital outreach project. We are incredibly grateful to the VAWDASV North Wales Regional Team for their support in funding the Stepping Forward project. Male survivors and LGBTQ+ survivors are often overlooked and under-represented in support services, despite the significant impact of trauma on their lives. This funding enables us to proactively reach those survivors, reduce barriers to disclosure, and ensure they can access safe, specialist and inclusive support at a time when it is most needed.”

A representative from the VAWDASV North Wales Regional Team added:

“We are pleased to support Stepping Stones North Wales in delivering the Stepping Forward project. This work aligns closely with our commitment to ensuring that all survivors of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence can access appropriate, inclusive and trauma-informed support. Targeted projects such as this play a vital role in reaching communities who may otherwise face barriers to seeking help.”